METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MULTIUNIT PACKAGES

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing multiunit packages (6). The method involves that packets (2) on their opposing outer sides extending in the conveying direction are given an application of glue immediately before, or at a packaging blank wrapping station (4), after which a blank (5), from such blanks stored in a magazine (20), is draped over a set (3) of packets (2) in a waiting position, flaps (9, 10) pertaining to the blank then being folded inwards into engagement with the glued sides (7, 8) of the set of packets with the aid of guides (25, 26), the set of packets kept together by the blank being taken next to a pressure station (11), where the side walls of the blank are further pressed against the set (3) before the finished multiunit package (6) leaves the machine. The apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a conveyor (1) for conveying packets (2), the magazine (20) disposed above the conveyor for storing packaging blanks (5), the blank wrapping station (4) as well as gripping means for plucking blanks from the magazine and delivering them to a waiting position above the packets.

Description: Method and apparatus for producing multiunit packages The present invention relates to a method and an appa¬ ratus for producing multiunit packages comprising a plurality of individual packets or the like, which are disposed juxtaposed and for keeping together with the aid of a packaging blank coacting in common with the outsides of the packets. The object of the invention is to provide a multiunit package that can be easily carried by a consumer, using a comfortable grip on a handle disposed uppermost on the package, while great stability may be obtained in the finished package by the possibility, made available by the invention, of positional orientation of the packets. There is now provided, due to the invention, a method and an apparatus of the kind mentioned in the introduc¬ tion that excellently fulfil envisaged objectives, while the method is simple in execution and the appara¬ tus is both simple and uncomplicated to manufacture. The distinguishing features of the invention are dis- closed in the accompanying claims. The invention will now be described in detail and with reference to the appended drawings, where Fig. 1 is a plan from above of an apparatus for the production of multiunit packages in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus depicted in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is an end view from the right in Figs. 1 and 2. As will be seen from the figures, an apparatus for producing multiunit packages 6 includes a conveyor 1 for moving individual packets 2 placed successively on it in a row. The packets 2 (in this case milk cartons) have been previously filled and sealed in a filling machine. The upper closing flap 2' of each packet extends parallel to the conveying direction when fed to the first part of the conveyor. The individual packets 2 from a filling machine (unillustrated in the figures) are conveyed to a sector feed wheel 14, which can be enabled or disabled, and in the former state it is intended to turn each packet through 90° for giving the flap 2 ' a direction at right angles to that of travel. An optional quantity, suitably between two and six packets, forms a set 3 of packets 2 for producing a package 6. The reason for turning the packets 90° is that stability in the finished package 6 will be greater, if the packets in a set are oriented with each flap 2' disposed at right angles to the direction of travel, i.e. at right angles to the long sides of the set 3. After being turned, the individual packets are conveyed to glue applicators 17, 18, one on either side of conveyor 1, for applying glue to opposing sides 7, 8 of the packets. Each set is caught here between a leading flight 15 and trailing flight 16 of a plurality of such flights arranged on a conveyor belt 24 and moving continuously in the conveying direction of conveyor 1. When a set has been caught between the flights, the trailing flight during its forward move¬ ment urges the packets against the leading flight 15. Above conveyor 1 there is a magazine 20 for packaging blanks 5 and, as will best be seen from Fig. 2, it contains a plurality of blanks standing on edge. Gripp¬ ing means (unillustrated) are adapted to pluck the blanks from the magazine and take them to a position above the set 3 of packets 2, now situated at a blank wrapping station 4. A blank is drawn down, with the aid of mutually opposing guides 25, 26 extending in the conveying direction, into an upside-down U shape over the set 3 in the station 4, simultaneously as the side flaps 9, 10 of the blank are urged into engagement with the outsides 7, 8 of the packets 2. The blank 5 is moved forwards between the stationary guides 25, 26 with the aid of the trailing flight 16. It will thus be understood that the trailing flight 16 urges both set 3 and blank 5 forwards, while the blank is wrapped round the set of packets. Coming after station 4 there is a station 11 equipped with pressure means 12, 13, which are intended to press against the blank flaps 9, 10 as soon as possible after glue has been applied to the sides 7, 8 of the set 3. The ready-assembled, glued and wrapped set 3, now in the form of a multiunit package 6, is subsequently conveyed further to a collection point beyond the conveyor 1. As will be seen from Fig. 1, the preferred embodiment example of the blank has a handle-like means 23 on the upper side of the package 6 to facilitate carrying it. The sector feed wheel 14 not only functions for turning packets through 90° but also as a gate obstructing the passage of packets in certain circumstances, as will now be described. The wheel is mounted for rotation about an axis 19 and is situated above the conveyor 1 in spaced relationship with the string of packets 2 on the conveyor. As already mentioned, it is adapted to enable catching each packet and relinquishing it in its new orientation to the conveyor 1. The other function of the wheel is to act as a gate or stop to ensure that glue can be applied to the sides 7, 8 of the set 3. Before the individual packets arrive at the wrapping station 4 it is suitable that a blank 5 is delivered in good time from the magazine 20 to a waiting position above station 4 before a set 3 gets into place under it. This enables the operating speed of the machine to be increased, in turn giving a shorter waiting time after glue application until the set has had the flaps 9, 10 pressed against it and is ready for conveying out of the machine as a finished multiunit package 6. Should it be desired to convey the packets individually to final packing handling, the inventive apparatus may function as a simple conveyor, with the sector feed wheel functions disabled, i.e. without the packets being arrested or turned through 90°. By placing magazine 20 above conveyor 1 the former may be filled from both sides of the machine without any special adaption. Bearing in mind thickness variations in the blanks, in order to orient them easily, the magazine may be equipped with lateral guides 21, 22, one on either side, implemented as assisting belts or chains provided with evenly distributed flights such as to maintain a suitably large sheaf of blanks in a controlled state. The advance of blanks in the magazine may be performed conventionally, with the aid of pivot¬ ing plucking means, which grip the blanks by vacuum and place them on horizontally disposed rails above the packets, before a trailing flight urges a blank towards the guides 25, 26 to produce the U shape of the blank draped over the packets, simultaneously as the flight positions the blank over the set of packets. In a normal embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the invention machine capacity is calculated to be a minimum of 7000 packets per hour with a multiunit package of 4-packets, i.e. approximately 30 finished packages per minute.

Claims: Claims 1. Method of producing multiunit packages from filled and sealed individual packets (2) fed onto a conveyor (1) , said packets being successively fed out in line from a filling station and in sets (3) of preferably 2-6 packets being pressed one against the other as they r _ ide on the conveyor before a packaging blank (5) wholely or partially envelops the set for forming a single multiunit package (6) , characterized in that on their opposing sides (7, 8) parallel to the direction of travel the packets (2) are provided with glue imme¬ diately before, or during, compressing the packets together in a set, in that said compression takes place with the aid of flights (15, 16) mounted on a conveyor means (24) adjacent the conveyor (1) , of said flights the trailing one (16) urging a set (3) of packets (2) towards the leading one (15) simultaneously as the trailing flight (16) feeds a packaging blank (5) for- wards from a waiting position above the set of packets and adjacent a magazine (20) , and into position in a blank wrapping station (4) , which includes a guide (25, 26) on either side of the packets for steering the blank downwards over the set of packets, there being flaps (9, 10) on the blank (5), which are folded into engagement against the glued outsides (7, 8) of the set (3) , and in that said set of packets kept together by the blank (5) is then discharged from this station and is conveyed to a pressure application station (11) , where the flaps or side walls (9, 10) of a blank cover¬ ing a set receive a further application of pressure from means (12, 13) before the finished multiunit package (6) is conveyed to a collection point outside the conveyor (1) . 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the individual, filled packets (2) are turned through 90° before the application of glue, a sector feed wheel being used for the turning movement. 3. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the rate of travel for the conveyor (1) is some¬ what greater than that of the flights (15, 16) , in order to achieve better compression of the packets (2) included in the multiunit package (6) . 4. Apparatus for producing multiunit packages (6) from individual filled packets (2) kept together in sets of preferably 2-6 packets, said apparatus includ- ing a conveyor (1) for conveying the packets from a filling machine, a magazine (20) arranged above said conveyor for storing packaging blanks (5) , as well as gripping means for plucking the blanks from the maga¬ zine and placing them in a position above the packets (2) before the blanks are positionally fixed over them, characterized in that glue applicators (17, 18) are disposed one on either side of the conveyor for apply¬ ing glue to two opposing sides of the packets at, or slightly before, a blank wrapping station (4) , which includes guides (25, 26) , one on either side of the conveyor, for steering a blank over the set (3) of packets, said glue being intended for fastening side flaps (9, 10) of the blank (5) after they have been folded against the packets by the guides (25, 26) , in that flights (15, 16) are arranged on a conveyor belt (24) adjacent the conveyor (1) , a leading (15) and a trailing flight (16) being adapted to compress a set of packets while a blank is urged from a waiting position above the packets and down into the wrapping station with the aid of the trailing flight (16) , and in that there is a pressure application station (11) situated directly after the wrapping station (4) , said station including means (12, 13) for pressing against the flaps (9, 10) and the packet sides (7, 8) . 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that before the glue applicators (17, 18) there is an engageable and disengageable sector feed wheel (14) , which functions as a stop for the packets (2) as well as functioning to turn them through 90°, said wheel being mounted for rotation about an axis (19) and in spaced relationship to the line of packets on the con¬ veyor and above said conveyor such as to enable catch¬ ing, turning and relinquishing packets moving forwards on the conveyor.

Inventors: KARLSSON JOERGEN, SJOEGREN BO, KARLSSON, JOERGEN, SJOEGREN, BO
Applicants: KARLSSON JOERGEN, SJOEGREN BO, SPRINTER SYSTEM AB, KARLSSON, JOERGEN, SJOEGREN, BO
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B65B17
IPC codes: B65B11, B65B17, B65B21